In a remarkable achievement, three young entrepreneurs have become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires, all thanks to their innovative AI recruiting startup, Mercor. At just 22, these founders have created a company now valued at $10 billion after a significant funding round.

Meet the Visionaries Behind Mercor

The creators of Mercor—Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha—were high school friends who shared a vision of blending technology with recruitment. With a recent funding of $350 million, they have surpassed notable billionaires, including Mark Zuckerberg.

A New Approach to Recruitment

Mercor specializes in AI-driven recruitment and data-labeling solutions aimed at enhancing the hiring process and supporting AI labs, including industry giants like OpenAI. This innovative platform connects talented Indian engineers with U.S. companies seeking freelance developers.

Achievements and Recognition

The founders, who are also Thiel Fellows, leveraged their chance to turn a startup dream into reality. Their rapid growth is evidenced by:

• Ranking on Forbes’ 2025 Under 30 list
• Listing on the Forbes Cloud 100
• Growing annualized revenue from $100 million to $500 million

As they navigate their newfound success, Foody reflects, “It feels very surreal and beyond anything we could have imagined two years ago.” This sentiment is shared by the talented team, marking a significant chapter in the landscape of young tech entrepreneurs.